The Next Big Thing for keeping families on the move comes from Hyundai – and the i800′s sub-£20k price tag gives it real pulling power.

The eight-seater certainly gets plenty of strength in the engine department too – it comes with a new 2.5-litre, four-cylinder diesel engine that has an enough-for-every-job 168bhp on tap.

Big families will fall in love with the £19,495 i800, out on June 20, simply because there’s still 851 litres of boot space even when all eight seats are fully occupied.

That figure is almost treble the carrying capacity of standard family hatchbacks and around double the cargo compartment of most estate cars.

That terrific versatility alone will see mums and dads standing behind taxi drivers in the queue at Hyundai dealerships, but it doesn’t end there.

All of the six rear seats are accessed by a pair of sliding doors, making getting in and out of the i800 easy. Both rear three-seater benches can split 60/40, and fold and recline, while the centre row can also slide forward or back to tailor space as required.

Hyundai says the i800′s rear-most bench can accommodate three adults in comfort, with uncompromised head and legroom.

The firm has created a more car-like ambience in the big people carrier’s cabin, with two-tone interior trim, privacy glass, a six-speaker audio system, and ducted air conditioning throughout. Individually-controlled overhead air vents are fitted in the rear.

Hyundai has moved the i800 away from standard minibus chassis configurations too. The people carrier has a specially-made coil-sprung five-link rear suspension, to enhance both ride comfort and driveability. Alloy wheels are also standard.

Hyundai has also imbued the power unit with enough torque to ensure the rear-drive i800 avoids feeling sluggish when fully loaded. It’s also capable of decent economy, with an official combined figure of 33.2 mpg.

The i800 comes with a 75-litre tank, allowing it to travel more than 560 miles between fill-ups.

Safety fittings include electronic stability and traction control systems, plenty of airbags, and all occupants have three-point seatbelts.

The i800 is a fair size – 5.12 metres long, 1.92 metres wide, and 1.92 metres high – but Hyundai claims it is agile enough in tight spots thanks to a turning circle of just 5.61 metres. Electronic reversing sensors are standard.

The i800 will be joined later in the year by an even cheaper, albeit lower-powered, lower-specification, version.

As with all Hyundais, the i800 is covered by a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty.

Hyundai UK managing director Tony Whitehorn said: “Anyone wanting to carry eight people in car-like comfort currently has to take two cars – or spend a lot more than £20,000.

“We think the i800 will prove massively popular with families and businesses who need to move people in style.”

Drivers can expect far superior in-car entertainment and communications systems in future from Hyundai and sister marque Kia, thanks to a link-up with computer software giant Microsoft.

Microsoft and the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group have entered into a long term agreement to co-develop new infotainment systems.

The first product from this partnership, an infotainment system that provides voice-controlled connectivity between mobile devices, will be introduced into the American market in 2010.